The 17th edition of the Gani Fawehinmi’s Annual Lecture/Symposium organized yearly by the Nigerian Bar Association is set to hold on Friday, 15th January, 2021 at ORANMIYAN HALL, IKEJA AIRPORT HOTEL, OBAFEMI AWOLOWO WAY, IKEJA, LAGOS STATE. BY 10am.
The theme of the Lecture is THE CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY OF NIGERIA’S DYSFUNCTION: ANY PATHWAY TO INDIVISIBILITY AND COMMON PROGRESS?
The Guest Speakers for the Lecture are Prof Babagana Zulum, Executive Governor of Borno State and Chief John Nnia Nwodo, President-General, Ohaneze-Ndigbo.
The Special Guests are; Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), The Honourable Minister of State for Labour & Employment, Hon. Justice Kazeem Alogba, The Chief Judge, High Court of Lagos State., Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), The Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State and Mr. Olumide Akpata, President of the Nigerian Bar Association.
Other discussants of the topic include Ms. Yemi Adamolekun, Executive Director, Enough Is Enough, and Mr. Folarin Falana (Falz)-Artist & Human Rights Activist.
Over the years, since the inception of the Gani Fawehinmi Lecture/Symposium, gifts would be given to the first 100 guests to arrive the venue of the event.
Late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, a renowned human rights lawyer, author, publisher of the popular Nigerian Weekly Law Reports (NWLR), Politician and Philanthropist, was born April 22, 1938 in Ondo State. He studied Law at the Holborn College of Law, University of London. He was an advocate of the masses, fearless and fierce in advocating for the rights of the powerless in the society. Popularly known as the people’s advocate, he took up cases in court for defenceless people who could not afford to pay for his legal services. He championed the rights of the downtrodden in an unprecedented manner. Until his death, he fought for “ordinary” Nigerians whom he regarded as his constituency.
The international community took notice of his many passionate humanitarian campaigns, and he was consequently awarded the Bruno Kreisky Prize on June 11, 1993, and the International Bar Association’s Bernard Simmons Award in 1998.
Every year, the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja Branch holds the Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture in honour of the late legal legend who during his lifetime was a member of the branch.
The event is usually well attended by family members of the late legend, lawyers, activists, students, politicians and royal dignitaries.
